Kelvin Smith

Educator

Teaching Experience

Sep 2016Present

Mathematics Instructor

Quest to Learn MS

Developed and delivered content to support the Algebra 1 Common Core curriculum.

Worked with a collaborative team of educators to develop positive behavior intervention systems. (Q-Bucks)

Led professional development around the implementation of Schoology - a Learning Management System.

Developed and implemented a quick turnaround game design course in Schoology.

Sep 2009Jun 2016

Mathematics Instructor

Innovation Diploma Plus HS

Taught:

Algebra 1, Terms 1, 2 and 3

Geometry, Terms 1, 2 and 3

Discrete Mathematics

Game Design

Developed elective courses designed to enhance critical thinking skills as they relate to real world situations, using the SCRATCH development environment.

Worked with a collaborative team of educators to develop blended courses that are aligned to Common Core standards.

Lead the math department from 2009, focusing on strategic planning and implementation for the past three years .

Provided technical support for the school's technology. Duties involved troubleshooting networks, printers, laptop and desktop computers, including communicating with the DOE Help Desk to discover workarounds for ongoing technology problems.

Sep 2006Jun 2009

Mathematics Instructor

Brooklyn Academy High School

Taught:

Math A, 1st and 2ndyear

SAT Preparation

Discrete Mathematics

C++ Programming

Developed a C++ course, using problem solving techniques that incorporate real world applications such as game design in accordance with NCTM standards for Grades 9-12.

Provided technical support for the school's technology infrastructure.

Other Experience

Robotics Club | 2013-2014

Co-mentored an after school robotics club that culminated in creating a remote controlled submersible for the US Navy's SeaPerch program.

B.A. Computer &
Information Science

Brooklyn College (Brooklyn, New York)

Certifications

2009

New York State Professional Teaching Certification

Mathematics

Portfolio

A game design course that focuses on the following geometric concepts:

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning.

Conditional Statements.

Coordinate Geometry.

Transformational Geometry.

Students learn basic programming concepts associated with object oriented programming using the SCRATCH interface. At the conclusion of the course the student will have developed and demonstrated critical thinking skills that can then applied to "real world" situations.

Collaborated with three instructors (of other disciplines) to develop curriculum for a blended model course. The mathematics component of this course centered on inductive reasoning (Module 4) and how it relates to the overarching theme of the course: conducting research.

Conferences

This presentation demonstrated the flexibility of the SCRATCH platform and its connection to gains in critical thinking and procedural logic skills. Instructors received a how-to overview for embedding and implementing SCRATCH solutions into their curriculum design.

This presentation gave instructors an entry point to coding while involving cross disciplinary concepts in STEAM. Instructors learned how the process of reverse engineering a retro video game (Space Invaders) provides multiple pathways to teach critical thinking and procedural logic skills.